Bible Strands
Jeremiah 39:5
But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — This verse records the pursuit and capture of King Zedekiah immediately after he and his soldiers fled Jerusalem at night through the king’s garden gate. The Chaldean army intercepts him during his escape route toward the Arabah.
The words — The text highlights וַ/יַּשִּׂ֣גוּ (va/i.ya.Si.gu), meaning "and they overtook," describing the precise moment the Chaldean forces closed the distance on the fleeing king. It also notes בְּ/עַֽרְב֣וֹת (be./'ar.Vot), literally "in the plains of," specifying the geographic location of the pursuit.
The thread — The location of the pursuit connects to Joshua 4:13 and Joshua 5:10, which also identify the plains of Jericho as a military and encampment site. The judgment location at Riblah in the land of Hamath parallels 2 Kings 23:33, where Pharaoh Neco previously detained a Judahite king.
Why it lands — The verse documents the factual sequence of Zedekiah’s flight, capture, and transfer for judgment, establishing the historical reality of Jerusalem’s fall. It requires the reader to acknowledge the text’s explicit account of events without adding theological commentary not present in the passage.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But the Chaldeans’ army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 23:33 And Pharaoh Neco imprisoned Jehoahaz at Riblah in the land of Hamath so that he could not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.
- Joshua 5:10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while the Israelites were camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover.
- Joshua 4:13 About 40,000 troops armed for battle crossed over before the LORD into the plains of Jericho.
- Jeremiah 32:4 Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the hands of the Chaldeans, but he will surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye.
- Jeremiah 38:18 But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, then this city will be delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans. They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape their grasp.’”
- Jeremiah 38:23 All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. And you yourself will not escape their grasp, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down.”
- Jeremiah 52:8 but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him.
- Jeremiah 52:26 Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.
- Numbers 13:21 So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo-hamath.
- Joshua 13:5 the land of the Gebalites; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath.